But I liked it better.”

He handed me a folded note that began, THANK YOU FOR LETTING TOBY HELP.

I looked at the paper for a long time.

I had not let Toby help, not knowingly.

His kindness had been carried out without my consent or even my awareness.

Still, there it was in front of me, a family’s gratitude for something tangible.

When Toby came downstairs and saw them, he stopped so suddenly that Jonah ran to hug him.

The boy said the bicycle still worked perfectly.